Tobacco Regulation Policy
The Australian Newsagents’ Federation understands the need for, and is supportive of, the regulation of tobacco products.
Australian tobacco control regulations are now regarded among the most extensive in the world. They consist of mandated health warnings covering 90% of the back and 30% of the front of a packet, indoor smoking bans in workplaces, bars and restaurants across every jurisdiction in Australia, restrictions on the retail display of tobacco products in all Australian states and territories and a ban on advertising which has been in place for over 17 years.
In aggregate there are over 700 tobacco control regulations in Australia alone and it is often the retailers who carry the cost and inconvenience of these regulations.
The ANF is committed to working with government to ensure our members comply with these existing regulations.
However, further tobacco control restrictions such as a complete black-out of tobacco products in shops, otherwise known as retail display bans (RDBs), poses a serious threat to the fragile economics of our local Newsagents.
Where tobacco control regulations are not supported by any evidence-base, and where they impose significant costs and hardship to industry - government's have an obligation to get the balance right between social and economic interests.
Retail Display Bans have been found to cost retailers millions of dollars in shop-fitouts and on-going transaction costs and they are unsupported by any evidence-base.
The ANF therefore strongly opposes RDBs and any additional tobacco control regulations which threaten an already vulnerable Newsagent constituency.
If governments pursue further tobacco control regulations, including RDBs, it should be done in consultation with industry, to ensure the costs to business are minimised.